Apparatus and process for making hollow ball bearings

ABSTRACT

The apparatus and process for making hollow ball bearings which comprises means to stamp round metal blanks from flat metal stock, stamping round metal blanks, forming means to form the blanks, drawing and forging the blanks to establish pairs of concavo-convex hemispheres, spaced relatively shiftable welding electrodes with hemisphere receiving welding seat, arranging the pairs of hemispheres between two electrode welding seats with their concaved surfaces in opposed relationship, urging the rim portions of the opposed hemispheres into pressure engagement with each other and welding them together to form hollow ball bearings.

Unite States tent 1 91 1111 3,731,359

Glenn 1 1 May 8, 1973 [54] APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager MAKING HOLLOW BALL BEARINGS Inventor: Edward R. Glenn, 2300 Laurel Place, Newport Beach, Calif. 92660 Filed: Feb. 24, 1972 Appl. No.: 229,111

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 23,218, March 27, 1970, Pat. No. 3,660,880.

US. Cl. ..29/148.4 B, 29/201, 29/463, 29/211 D Int. Cl. ....B23p 11/00, B23p 19/04, B2ld 39/02 Field of Search ..29/148.4 B, 201, 29/211 D References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9 1912 Schatz "29/148148 12/1960 Niles,.lr. 29/l48.4B

AtlorneyGeorge A. Maxwell [57] ABSTRACT The apparatus and process for making hollow ball bearings which comprises means to stamp round metal blanks from flat metal stock, stamping round metal blanks, forming means to form the blanks, drawing and forging the blanks to establish pairs of concavoconvex hemispheres, spaced relatively shiftable welding electrodes with hemisphere receiving welding seat, arranging the pairs of hemispheres between two electrode welding seats with their concaved surfaces in opposed relationship, urging the rim portions of the opposed hemispheres into pressure engagement with each other and welding them together to form hollow ball bearings.

15 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 'PATENTEUHAY ems sum 1 OF 3 APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR MAKING HOLLOW BALL BEARINGS This is a division of my U.S. application Ser. No. 23,218 filed Mar. 27, 1970, US. Pat. No. 3,660,880, issued May 9, 1972; and entitled HOLLOW BEARING BALL AND PROCESS FOR MAKING THEM."

This invention lies within the art of ball bearings and the process of making such balls, which involves joining opposing concavo-convex hemispherical portions of such balls by electric welding.

Hollow metal balls have been manufactured in the past for various purposes. However, it is thought that the hollow bearing balls of this particular invention are of a new and novel type and that the process of making the bearing balls is completely different.

As can be appreciated, when ball bearings are utilized in high speed operation they have a substantial amount of inertia. Furthermore, the heavy weight of such ball bearings due to density has limited the application of solid ball bearings. In current aircraft engines, the ball bearings add a significant amount of weight. Thus, if a hollow bearing ball could be fashioned in a suitable and inexpensive manner, a weight factor in a plane could be eliminated which now exists. It is estimated that in some planes, a savings of upwards of 300 pounds could be effectuatcd bythe use of the hollow bearing ball of this invention.

As can be appreciated, when substantial inertial forces are incurred by solid ball bearings, substantial amounts of stress are placed on the bearing races. Bearing races are usually made from a light metal in order to effectuate smooth movement'of the bearing balls in the races, as well as limiting inertia when the balls are in rotational movement with respect to a shaft or journal. This invention overcomes the deficiency of solid bearing balls with respect to inertial drag and the limitation of stress on the bearing races.

Although ball bearings are not known as substantial drag elements in an overall mechanical system because of the fact that they are utilized for free rotational movement of a shaft therein, it can be appreciated that the greater the weight of a solid ball with respect to a hollow ball the greater the friction. In other words, frictional forces are a factor of the weight of an object as well as the coefficient of friction. The coefficient of friction of a hollow bearing ball does not change to any significant degree in comparison with a solid bearing ball. Nevertheless, the comparative mass between the two changes the overall frictional drag of each respective bearing ball. This invention has overcome many of the frictional drag drawbacks of prior art bearings by providing a freely moving hollow bearing ball of less weight.

ln summation, with respect to hollow bearing balls as opposed to solid bearing balls, it can be stated that the prior art of solid bearing balls has been substantially improved upon by this invention by reducing friction, drag, inertia, stresses and overall weight.

There have been attempts at making substantially hollow balls having a substantial degree of strength. These attempts have usually involved machining two substantially formed hemispheres, and then welding the hemispheres into a completed sphere. This technique has been costly and inadequate because of the requirement that the concavities of the hemispheres be machined along with the outside surfaces thereof. This invention overcomes the requirement of the foregoing machining operations.

The machining of a metallic object does not relieve all the stresses and create the correct geometrical strength relationships required in the surface of a high strength sphere used for a bearing ball. When the machining of a ball is performed, it does not account for the different slip planes and other characteristics of the metal which is inherent in the original formation of the metal, prior to machining.

This invention has overcome the deficiencies of the prior art machining methods by forming a pair of concavo-convex hemispheres for a sphere in a desirable metallurgical manner and then welding them together.

In summation, this invention comprises a new and novel apparatus and process for making a high strength hollow bearing ball.

Specifically, the new and novel process comprises stamping blanks of resilient metal'forming the blanks, by drawing and forging, into pairs of like concave-convex substantially hemispherical sections, arranging the sections with their concavities in opposed juxtaposed relationship and induction welding their rims together without an extrinsic source of metal. The end product is devoid of foreign welding material and comprises a hollow, spherical, homogeneous mass of metal.

The process of holding and welding the two hemispherical sections in opposed concave relationship is effected by an apparatus comprising suitable feeding, seating and welding means whereby the seating of sections is sequenced'to provide for the receipt of two sections, from the feed means, in concave opposed relationship, within two opposing seats of the seating means, with their edges in opposed relationship prior to welding. The rims of the hemispheres are first brought together in opposed pressure engagement and are then welded together by operation of the seating and welding means. The metal of each of the related hemi-' spheres is utilized to establish the weld, thereby avoiding variances in metallic formation and character, as might result if other and different metal was utilized to effect the weld between the hemispheres.

The foregoing cycle can be accomplished within one second intervals to provide a continual feeding, seating and welding of the substantially formed hemispheres into bearing balls, thus providing for the highly efficient and automated fomation of hollow bearing balls.

The foregoing and other objects and features of my invention will be fully understood and will become apparent from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and embodiment of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a plan view of a portion of the die and form ing apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the male and female die of this, invention as the female die is sectioned along line 22 ofFlG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the male and female die as the female die is sectioned along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned plan view of apparatus for practicing this invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned side view along line 5- 5 of FIG. 4 showing apparatus for practicing this invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectioned view toward line 6-6 of FIG. showing a detailed view of the feed and hemisphere seating and welding apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a portion of the same sectional view of FIG. 3 taken at a different moment in time; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry of this invention.

FIG. 1, 2, 3 and 7 relate particularly to the formation of concave-convex hemispheres to be subsequently electrically welded and joined together to establish hollow bearing balls. The process and apparatus for forming the hemispheres initially starts with a strip of resilient metal 10. The metal can be a spring type of steel such as SAE. 1095 which has an equivalent carbon content as SAE 52100.

The metal strip 10 is passed over a plurality of female dies formed into a die base 12. The die base 12 incorporates 6 female dies 14 and is provided rotational movement at a centerpost 16. The entire structure is placed upon a base support means 18 having apparatus incorporated thereunder which shall be discussed. The female dies 14 are equally spaced around the periphery of the die base 12. The die base 12 is actuated for rota- :tional movement to equally index each one of the female dies circumferentially about the pin 16 in consistent circumferential movement.

The strip of metal 10 is shown having a plurality of holes 20 punched out of the metal. This has been effectively accomplished by the stamping operation taking place within the female die just previous to the holes 20 as shown in overlying dotted relationship at the station indicated by numeral 22.

The stamping is accomplished in combination with the female die base 12 and dies 14 by a male die support 24. The male die support 24 has a plurality of male dies affixed thereto and moves vertically in overlying relationship with the female die base 12. Thus, as the female die base 12 moves, it cooperates with the male die holder 24 to effectively stamp and process the hemispheres, as each female die 14 respectively moves beneath it.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the male die support 24 as sectioned along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 is provided with a male die 26 which stamps a blank from the sheet of metal 10 at station 22. The male die 26 moves into the female die 14 which has been formed by virtue of an insert 28 in the female die base 12. The male die 26 is provided with a raised portion 30 to effectively dimple a blank of stamped metal 32 with a concavity 34 and an annular outer portion 36.

As the female die base 12 rotates it is indexed under a male drawing die 38. The male drawing die 38 drives the blank of metal 32 down into the female die insert 28 at station 40. The male die portion 38 is formed with a convex rounded portion 42 of a cylinder 44. As the convex rounded portion 42 drives the blank 32 downwardly into the die insert 28, it effectively draws the metal into a hemisphere in a rough draw operation. The rough draw is not sufficient to drive the hemisphere completely through the die insert 28. Thus, the blank 32 is drawing into a rough hemisphere and carried around to a subsequent processing operation, to be described.

After the blank 32 has been drawn into a rough hemisphere the female die base 12 is indexed for placement under a forging head in the form of a male die 46 having a cylindrical portion 48 terminating in a convex hemisphere 50 with an annular ledge 52 there-around between the point of termination of the cylinder 46 and the hemisphere 50. The convex hemisphere 50 drives the blank 32 which has been rough drawn downwardly further into the female die insert 28. The female die insert 28 moves in overlying relationship to a forging die block 46 which has a concavity 48 therein for the receipt of the drawn blank 32. The drawn blank 32 is driven down into the forging die block 46 by virtue of the rounded end portion 50 pushing the blank therein- To effectuate the foregoing operation, the forging die block 46 is moved upwardly under the female die insert 28 when the support 12 is moved thereover at station 54, with the blank 32. To move the forging die block 46 into the insert 28, the block is cammed upwardly by virtue of the action of a camming rod 56 which is actuated for longitudinal movement at a connection point58. The camming rod 56 has an inclined surface 60 which serves to drive against the base of the forging die block 46 when it is moved forwardly as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. Upon retraction of the camming rod 56 the interior camming surface 62 operates to move against the interior of the base of the die block insert 46 so that it is pulled downwardly until the planar holding surface 64 of the camming rod overlies the interior bore of the forging die block.

Specifically, the forging die block 46 has a passage 66 in surrounding relationship with the respective exterior and interior cam surfaces 66 and 62 so that the camming rod 56 can move in longitudinal relationship therein. The interior of the forging die block has a sloping surface 68 corresponding to the interior cam surface 62 for camming it downwardly. The interior of the forging die block 46 has a sloping surface 70 for upward camming action of the interior of the forging die block by movement against the exterior camming surface 66. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the interior camming surface 62 of the rod 56 pulls the interior of the forging die block 46 downwardly toward the end of the rod stroke. This action removes the forging block 46 from the female die carrier 12, so that it can thenrotate to station 80.

The action which takes place at station 54 is generally one of a forging and flowing action of the metal blank 32. The flowing action forges the blank to a high density and stabilizes stresses by flowing the metal into a desirable formed hemisphere. If the metal were not flowed and forged, the original rolling stresses and stresses stemming from the draw which take place at station 40 would still be inherent within the blank 32.

The station 22 as previously described provides the blank with a dimple or concavity 34 by virtue of the action of the blank stamping male die 26. The blank stamping male die 26 serves to precondition and preform the blank 32 by virtue of the convex section 30 that forms the concavity 34 within the blank. It is the combination of the forming of the concavity, the drawing and specifically the forging which makes the high quality bearing ball of this invention.

As previously stated, subsequent to the forging and flowing operation at station 54 the female die base 12 is indexed to station 80. Station underlies a male die 82 formed as a cylindrical section 84 terminating in a flattened end portion 86 overlying the blank 32 which has been formed into a hemisphere 88. The flattened end portion 86 drives down and pushes the hemisphere 88 which has been formed from the blank 32 outwardly for future use. At this stage of the operation a well formed heimpshere 88 is provided having the necessary strength requirements for future formation as a sphere, with another hemisphere. The hemispheres 88 are then cleaned and removed of any extraneous materials in a subsequent operation which can be performed by any one of a number of suitable metal cleaning processes or operations, commonly used in the mechanical arts.

After the parts are cleaned they can be placed in a hopper which can be of any suitable configuration known in the art but which has, in FIG. 6, been shown as having funnel shaped side walls 90. The desired end result is that the hemispheres 88 be placed in discrete concave opposite adjacent relationship by virtue of a divider wall 92 separating the hemispheres. The hopper should effectively place the hemispheres 88 in juxtaposed relationship as they move into the neck 94 of the funnel. The adjacent concave relationship of the hemispheres 88 allows them to move to a point where they can be subsequently fed into a welding operation.

The neck 94 of the hopper feeds the hemispheres 88 into an area adjacent electrodes 96. The electrodes 96 cooperate effectively to hold a related pair of hemispheres 88 in opposed concave adjacent relationship. The electrodes 96 draw apart in a manner to be described and are fed the hemispheres in the concave adjacent relationship by a loading finger 98 which serves to feed the hemispheres 88 in a sequential manner. The loading finger98 is driven by a loading finger connector 100 which serves to drive the loading finger forwardly for receipt of the hemispheres 88. The hemispheres 88 drop down onto a ledge 101 of the loading finger 98 between surrounding walls 102. The walls 102 serve to hold the hemispheres 88 with the aid ofa magnetized concave surface ofa member 104 having a similar curvature to the outside circumference of the hemispheres 88. The magnet 104 serves to hold the hemispheres 88 in adjacent relationship to each other in a position suitable for subsequent welding operations. The hemispheres 88 are fed to the finger in a separated condition by the wall 92 and held apart from each other by virtue of a fin 106 which serves to hold the hemispheres 88 apart after they have been fed through the neck of the funnel 94. ln other words the fin 106 acts as a further extension of the wall 92 so that when the hemispheres are dropped from the funnel 94 in divided relationship on either side of the wall the fin 106 extends the wall to accommodate the proper feeding of the hemispheres to the electrodes 96.

In practice, the means provided to effect transfer of the hemispheres from the means employed to form them to the electrodes 96 can vary widely in form and operation. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the hopper means disclosed and described above is only illustrative of one typical form and class of means that might be used to advantage in the effective carrying forward of my invention.

The electrodes 96 shown as two elongate, axially aligned cylindrical parts, formed with two partially concave, opposing, hemispherical seats 108 for the receipt of the hemispheres 88. The electrodes 96 are held by retainer rings or clamps 110 which hold the electrodes 96 in clamped insulated relationship with insulating material 112 between the clamp and the electrode. The entire assembly is secured by the appendages 111 of the retainer clamps 110 with bolts 114 in tightened relationship with the appendages of the retainer clamps so that they clamp the insulating material 112 over or about the electrodes 96, in addition to holding the electrodes.

The retainer clamps 110 secure the electrodes 96 and are in turn secured to connectors 116 which are attached to a pair of arms 118. The arms 118 are respectively connected to and pivoted on rotatable support cylinders 120 which are journaled at the respectively reduced ends 121 thereof into main upper and lower frames, respectively 122 and 123. The frames 122 and 123 serve to support the arms so that they may be moved about the axis on which they are journaled. The main frames 122 can be formed in any suitable manner so long as they are capable of supporting not only the rotatable support cylinders 120 to which the arms 118 are attached but also the other apparatus journaled and/or connected thereto which shall be discussed.

The arms 118 are provided with arcuate movement by virtue of being connected to the rotatable support cylinders 120 which have the previously referred to tapered ends 121. The arms 1 18 are caused to rotate in a radial manner around the rotatable support cylinders 121. The arms are held in an interior position prior to outward radial movement by virtue of a spring and shackle system 124. The spring and shackle system 124 comprises a pair of bolts 126 and 128. The bolt 126 is secured outside an arm 118 at one end by a nut 130 and at the other end is internally secured within a spring 132 having an internal securing means for holding the bolt therein. The bolt 128 is also secured within the spring 132 in distal relationship from the head which is the only exposed portion of the bolt. As the arms 118 move radially outwardly, they tend to pull against the compressive tensile loading provided by the spring 132. The compressive tensile force of the spring 132 is overcome by a rotational camming drive system which shall be explained.

The rotational camming drive system previously mentioned is driven by a drive wheel 136 which can be turned by any suitable belt driving motor to drive a belt seated within a groove 138 in the driving wheel. The driving wheel 136 is supported on a shaft 140 which is journaled for smooth rotational movement within the frames 122 and 123. The shaft 40 has a pair of clamping collars 142 and 144 surrounding the shaft to hold the driving wheel 136 in fixed position on the shaft 140. The shaft 140 supports a pair of cams 146 and 148 which are connected to a cam support member 150 which is in turn connected to the shaft. Attached to the arms 118 interiorly thereof are a pair of plates 152 secured thereto by a pair of bolts 154 and 156 for receiving the force of the camming action provided by the cams 146 and 148. The foregoing force serves to actuate the arms 118 in an outward manner under the tension of the spring 132.

The shaft has a cam 158 attached to it with a cover 160 thereover and is attached to the shaft 140 by means of collars 162 and 164. The collars 162 and 164 secure the cam 158 so that as the cam 158 rotates any object within a groove 166 will follow the cams movement. The groove 166 as can be seen is provided by virtue of the overlying edge flange 1680f the cam cover 160 which circumscribes the cam 158. Internally of the groove 166 a roller 170 is placed which is attached to an arm 172. The roller 170 is attached by means of a connecting pin 174 so that it can rotatably move within the groove 166 to follow the action of the cam 158. As the cam rotates, the arm 172 which is formed as a portion of the loading finger connector 100 moves backwardly and forwardly within a pair of guides 176 secured by bolts 178 to the frame 123. Thus, upon rotation of the shaft 140 the cam 158 operates to move the loading finger connector 100 back and forth by the movement of the arm 172 and roller 170 actuated by the cam.

In order to effectively operate the welding apparatus of this invention, a transformer generally shown as a box 180 is provided with connection bars 182 extending therefrom. The connection bars 182 are in turn connected electrically by menns of flexible metal straps 184 to a portion of the electrodes 96. The straps 184 are bolted to the connection bars 182 by bolts 186 and to the electrodes 96 by bolts. 188.

The electrodes 96 are supplied with a suitable electrical current for welding purposes by the transformer 180 providing a current through the connection bars 182. The switching on of the current is performed by a cam 190 which turns on the shaft 140 so that it actuates a switch 192 having a cam follower 194 for movement when the cam turns against it. The switch 192 which is operated by the cam follower 194 is connected to a power source shown in FIG. 6 and a variable generator which supplies the transformer 180 for rendering a current to the electrodes 96.

The electrodes 96 are spaced apart for receipt of the hemispherical portions 88 which form the bearing balls of this invention by a spacer which shall be described. The spacer comprises an internally threaded cylinder 200 which has an externally threaded member 202 threaded therein. The externally threaded member 202 rotatably seats within the internally threaded member 200 and is provided with a knurled wheel 204 which has a pad 206 on the surface thereof. The pad 206 moves against an arm 118 to space that arm from its opposing arm. The internally threaded member 200 is affixed to the opposing arm 118 so that as the knurled knob is rotated for movement of the pad 206 against the opposite arm 118 it provides a jackscrew adjustment for spacing of the arms.

In order to operate the apparatus it can be connected electrically to a 240 volt 6O cycle line across terminals shown in FIG. 6 by a three pole switch 126. A motor 232 is connected across the line for 120 volt operation. The motor 232 is connected by the drive wheel 136 to the shaft 140 and serves to provide the mechanical power as well as the switching functions necessary to cause the apparatus hereof to function.

The motor is controlled by aswitch 234 which is placed across the 120 volt line source. The cam operated switch 192 is shown connected across the line for operation of a relay 236, which is generally shown in schematic form. The relay 236 serves to cause the transformer 180 to effectively provide a current through the electrodes schematically shown at 96 in FIG. 6 with a pair of hemispheres 88 shown therebetween. The transformer is provided with the proper power level by a variable generator 238, or any other suitable means to provide power across the lines of the transformer. In order to control the proper level of the power across the transformer 180, a volt meter 240 is placed across the line so that the proper electrical current is delivered to the electrodes 96 for welding the hemispheres 88.

In operation, the main line switch provided by the siwtch 226 is thrown. The circuit is now live and the only thing necessary to start the oepration of the apparatus is turning on the control power switch 234 to cause the motor 232 to turn. As the motor 232 turns, the hemispheres 88 are fed downwardly toward the feeding finger 98 and into the electrodes 96. The switch 192 which is operated by the cam serves to operate the relay 236 for energizing the electrodes 96 each time the hemispheres 88 are in juxtaposition between the electrodes, thus causing the hemispheres to be welded.

One of the key features of this invention is that during the welding process no foreign metal is introduced to form the hemispheres 88 into a bearing ball. The weld is performed by the flow of metal between each respective hemisphere 88 to the other in a fusion process. Such a weld causes not only a uniformity of metal at the weld point, but also a degree of uniformity throughout the finished product. The finshed product therefore provides a substantially homogeneous hollow bearihg ball without layers of varying types of metal.

After the electrodes 96 have welded the hemispheres 88 into a sphere, they are dropped by virtue of the electrodes separating. The spheres drop into a receiving chute 150. The receiving chute 150 is connected to a hopper or other suitable means for collecting the spheres 102. After the spheres 102 have been passed from the chute 150 into a hopper or other suitable receiver, they are then polished to a high degree for purposes of effectuating a relatively smooth and friction free bearing ball.

Having described my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details set forth in the preceding, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications and/or variations of my invention which may appear to whose skilled in the art and which fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having descriped my invention, I claim:

1. An apparatus for forming two concave-convex substantially hemispherically formed hemispheres into a substantially rounded hollow sphere comprising a pair of welding electrodes in normal spaced relation ship having opposed concave seats for receiving portions of related hemispheres to be welded together and formed into spheres; feed means for sequentially feeding pairs of substantially hemispherically formed hemispheres into said seats and means for intermittently moving said electrodes toward each other and the hemispheres seated therein into pressure engagement with each other, said feeding means and said welding electrodes to respectively receive and move inwardly in stepped sequence for holding and welding the substantially formed hemispheres.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said welding means comprise a pair of electrodes having cup-shaped seats for receipt of the concave portion of the hemispheres; means for providing an electrical cur rent at a suitable level for welding said hemispheres; and means to switch the current on for welding said substantially formed hemispheres.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said feeding means comprise a hopper for feeding the substantially formed hemispheres into proximate relationship with said electrodes; a feeding finger for receiving said substantially formed hemispheres and moving them into position between said electrodes; means to move said feeding finger into position between said electrodes; and means to cause said electrodes to move together and hold said substantially formed hemispheres between them.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising welding electrodes in opposite juxtaposition to each other having cup shaped opposing configurations for receiving the substantially formed hemispheres from said feed means; a pair of arms to which said welding electrodes are attached; means for moving said arms inwardly and outwardly from each other.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said arms are pivotably supported for radial movement with respect to each other; a rotating cam driver to move said arms radially with respect to each other; and means to sequentially time the movement of said arms with the current supply to said welding electrodes.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means to hold said arms in spring loaded radial relationship; rotating cam means for radially forcing said arms apart which are under the loan of said spring means.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means to adjust the distance of the movement of said arms. U

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said adjustment means comprise a first threaded member attached to one arm; a second threaded member attached to the other arm and threaded to said first threaded member for relative threaded movement between said first and second threaded members; and means for turning at at least one of said threaded members for adjustment of the radial spacing between said arms.

9. A process for welding two substantially formed hemispheres into a sphere comprising delivering said hemispheres in opposite juxtaposed relationship to each other; holding said substantially formed hemispheres in juxtaposition to each other; placing said hemispheres between two electrodes and inv contact therewith; welding said substantially hemispherical objects by introducing a current to said electrodes; releasing said hemispheres as formed into a sphere.

10. A process as claimed in claim 9 further comprising holding said hemispheres in position between said electrodes and in contact therewith under pressure.

1 l. A process as claimed in claim 10 further comprising magnetically holding said hemispheres in juxtaposition.

12. A process as claimed in claim 9 further comprising the prior process steps of stamping a metal sheet to provide a disc; drawing said disc into a configuration having a concavity; forging said disc into a substantially formed hemis here; and placing said substantially formed hemlsp eres into position for delivery thereof as previously claimed.

13. A process as claimed in claim 12 further comprising cleaning said substantially formed hemispheres prior to placement thereof for delivery.

14. A process as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hemispheres are welded without an extrinsic source of metal by flowing the metal between each respective hemisphere under heat.

15. A process as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hemispheres are electrically fused. 

1. An apparatus for forming two concave-convex substantially hemispherically formed hemispheres into a substantially rounded hollow sphere comprising a pair of welding electrodes in normal spaced relationship having opposed concave seats for receiving portions of related hemispheres to be welded together and formed into spheres; feed means for sequentially feeding pairs of substantially hemispherically formed hemispheres into said seats and means for intermittently moving said electrodes toward each other and the hemispheres seated therein into pressure engagement with each other, said feeding means and said welding electrodes to respectively receive and move inwardly in stepped sequence for holding and welding the substantially formed hemispheres.
 2. An apparAtus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said welding means comprise a pair of electrodes having cup-shaped seats for receipt of the concave portion of the hemispheres; means for providing an electrical current at a suitable level for welding said hemispheres; and means to switch the current on for welding said substantially formed hemispheres.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said feeding means comprise a hopper for feeding the substantially formed hemispheres into proximate relationship with said electrodes; a feeding finger for receiving said substantially formed hemispheres and moving them into position between said electrodes; means to move said feeding finger into position between said electrodes; and means to cause said electrodes to move together and hold said substantially formed hemispheres between them.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising welding electrodes in opposite juxtaposition to each other having cup shaped opposing configurations for receiving the substantially formed hemispheres from said feed means; a pair of arms to which said welding electrodes are attached; means for moving said arms inwardly and outwardly from each other.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said arms are pivotably supported for radial movement with respect to each other; a rotating cam driver to move said arms radially with respect to each other; and means to sequentially time the movement of said arms with the current supply to said welding electrodes.
 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means to hold said arms in spring loaded radial relationship; rotating cam means for radially forcing said arms apart which are under the loan of said spring means.
 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means to adjust the distance of the movement of said arms.
 8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said adjustment means comprise a first threaded member attached to one arm; a second threaded member attached to the other arm and threaded to said first threaded member for relative threaded movement between said first and second threaded members; and means for turning at at least one of said threaded members for adjustment of the radial spacing between said arms.
 9. A process for welding two substantially formed hemispheres into a sphere comprising delivering said hemispheres in opposite juxtaposed relationship to each other; holding said substantially formed hemispheres in juxtaposition to each other; placing said hemispheres between two electrodes and in contact therewith; welding said substantially hemispherical objects by introducing a current to said electrodes; releasing said hemispheres as formed into a sphere.
 10. A process as claimed in claim 9 further comprising holding said hemispheres in position between said electrodes and in contact therewith under pressure.
 11. A process as claimed in claim 10 further comprising magnetically holding said hemispheres in juxtaposition.
 12. A process as claimed in claim 9 further comprising the prior process steps of stamping a metal sheet to provide a disc; drawing said disc into a configuration having a concavity; forging said disc into a substantially formed hemisphere; and placing said substantially formed hemispheres into position for delivery thereof as previously claimed.
 13. A process as claimed in claim 12 further comprising cleaning said substantially formed hemispheres prior to placement thereof for delivery.
 14. A process as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hemispheres are welded without an extrinsic source of metal by flowing the metal between each respective hemisphere under heat.
 15. A process as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hemispheres are electrically fused. 